Week 14 Sunday Game-by-Game Fantasy Predictions

Huge, huge day tomorrow. Whether you're fighting for a playoff spot or trying to lock down a bye week -- or trying to avoid finishing in last place -- good luck. For what it's worth, I started the year 2-3, and am now 9-4 with about a half-decent shot at the #1 seed. The law of averages has helped, with Isiah Pacheco and DeVonta Smith coming on strong, while CeeDee Lamb and T.J. Hockenson consistently have saved my team from potential ruin. Those were four of my first five draft picks, and that stability at the top has made all the difference.

Here are the top fantasy storylines I'm following for each remaining team:

Buccaneers (+1.5) at Falcons – Tampa Bay should have enough firepower to win and remain in the playoff hunt. I’m interested in seeing whether Chris Godwin will remain far behind Mike Evans on the surprisingly lopsided WR pecking order. And is Bijan Robinson the only Falcon worth starting?

Lions (-3.5) at Bears – Can Detroit’s offense continue to support both David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs in the same week? And for Chicago, who will step out in front in the backfield? My late-season money remains on Roschon Johnson.

Bengals (-2) vs. Colts – Chase Brown ran great last week, to put it mildly. Will he cap Joe Mixon’s upside, or will the veteran bell cow remain an automatic start in a Jake-Browning-led offense? And rookie Josh Downs hasn’t hit double-digits since October. Can managers trust him as a streamer?

Browns (-3) vs. Jaguars – With Trevor Lawrence suddenly more likely to start than sit, many eyes should be on Parker Washington and whether the rookie’s Week 13 outburst was more of a fluke than a sign of things to come. I don’t yet trust him. And for Cleveland, will Joe Flacco start over Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and if so, will the aged veteran throw enough to safely feed at least two receivers? Recent history suggests he’ll throw plenty.

Saints (-5.5) vs. Panthers – New Orleans’ slim playoff hopes hinge partly on what happens in this one. If Derek Carr isn’t cleared, Jameis Winston could play his way to a Week 15 start . . . if Chris Olave (questionable) is a full go. Superflex and deep-league managers should care, because they’ll face the Giants at home next week, and the must-win Saints could do a lot of damage through the air. For Carolina, once again, will Jonathan Mingo strengthen his claim to the #1 WR role?

Texans (-3.5) vs. Jets – Two confusing backfields. That’s the story in this contest. Devin Singletary vs. Dameon Pierce, and Breece Hall vs. . . . yes, Dalvin Cook. It’s an utter mess for managers who deserve more clarity at this stage of the season.

Ravens (-7.5) vs. Rams – Zay Flowers has exceeded 12.5 points only once since the beginning of October. There are many reasons to be excited about him longer term. But as we approach the fantasy playoffs, can managers start him with confidence? And the same goes for Cooper Kupp, who might be more TD-dependent than in any other season of his career.

Vikings (-3) at Raiders -- The return of Justin Jefferson. In his four full games to start the season, he was on pace for a 140-2,308-13 receiving line. Yeah, insane. But what will he do with Kirk Cousins out of the picture? And for Vegas's continually top-heavy offense, I'm wondering how safe Jakobi Meyers is as a streamer. While he's the WR23 in fantasy points per game, he hit 15.5+ points in five of his first six outings. Since then? Only once (last week). Jimmy G's absence probably has impacted him the most.

49ers (-11) vs. Seahawks -- CMC is on pace for 370 regular-season touches, and if all goes perfectly for the Niners, upwards of 450 if they win Super Bowl. I'm wondering if his steady touch decline since Week 11 will continue this weekend. And for Seattle, the backfield remains up in the air with two injured RBs. While Kenneth Walker is still the lead guy, fantasy managers don't want to wonder if he's still solidly startable.

Chiefs (-1) vs. Bills -- K.C. will be without Pacheco, making Clyde Edwards-Helaire one of the most fascinating fantasy starters of Week 14. His last official start was in Week 6 of 2022 against these same Bills. There's a good chance he'll be either a fantasy hero or a complete disaster, with little room for "solid-ness." It's simply hard to know what to expect. And for Buffalo, Dawson Knox practiced all week. If he returns, Dalton Kincaid clearly would take a hit. The question is "how much," as Kincaid has proven he belongs atop the depth chart.

Dolphins (-13) vs. Titans -- If Tennessee gets blown out, Derrick Henry could be one of the week's biggest RB fantasy busts. We'll see if the Titans can keep it close. For now, continue to keep close tabs on Tyjae Spears, as Tennessee's season effectively is over. And is De'Von Achane now Miami's most valuable fantasy RB?

Packers (-6.5) at Giants -- Since generating 39 touches in a Week 8 loss to the Jets, Saquon Barkley has averaged a more reasonable (but less fantasy-friendly) 16.5. A free agent next season, he's a prime candidate for a late-season "injury" to keep him from a serious injury that could impact his contract value. Watch for Matt Breida or someone else to take more touches -- if not this week, then almost certainly in the next couple weeks. For Green Bay, Aaron Jones is expected to return. How the heck can anyone trust him? Well, some of you might have to take the leap, depending on your RB situation. The good news is the Packers are 6-6, so the team needs Jones as much as ever to help them reach the playoffs, as A.J. Dillon hasn't done enough to challenge Jones's backfield dominance.